Reusable cartridge for producing skinless sausage

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a reusable cartridge for manufacturing a skinless sausage, having a tubular middle section and at least one adjoining sealing end made of a flexible synthetic material, whereby the middle section of the cartridge is formed integrally with the sealing end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reusable cartridge for manufacturinga skinless sausage, having a tubular middle section and at least oneadjoining sealing end made of a flexible synthetic material

2. Description of Related Art

Manufacturing skinless sausages is already known, in that sausage meatis infected into an endless cellulose gut which is then twisted off intolengths of the finished sausages at corresponding distances. After theripening process the sausages, with the exception of frying sausages,are smoked, cooked and cooled, and the cellulose gut is then peeled off.The peeling process of the cellulose gut is carried out by hand andaccordingly represents a time-intensive procedural step which is notentirely safe from the hygiene point of view. In addition, the celluloseguts can be used once only, so that during manufacture of the sausages alarge quantity of used cellulose gut accrues which for the most part hasto be disposed of and represents a high cost factor in sausagemanufacturing.

Sausages cannot be manufactured fully automatically by the necessaryprocedural steps when carried out by hand.

Attempts have been made in the past to manufacture skinless sausageswith the aid of cartridges. Here, a separate cartridge is provided foreach subsequent sausage, into which the sausage mass is introduced.

A process of this type is described in DE-OS 25 23 506, for instance.

The essential problem which restricts the use of such cartridges for themanufacture of sausages lies in the expensive structure and complicatedhandling of the sealing caps. On the one hand, the sealing caps are toseal tightly, and on the other hand they are to enable the sausage meatto expand in the cartridge.

A cartridge is already known from DE-OS 41 34 249 which is equipped witha closure sleeve which is expansive to construct. In this connection,the closure sleeve is provided directly with a closure device whichtightly seals an opening after filling. The sealing cap is connectedsolidly to the sleeve both during and after the filling process. As withthe other known prior art, the sealing cap has to be set manually onboth ends of the cartridge and later removed for cleaning the mould.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to improve the known cartridgessuch that they can be reused many times over, and also to enable simplecost-efficient manufacturing of the cartridges and the sausages.

This task is solved according to the present invention by the middlesection of the cartridge being designed integrally with the sealing end.

This design of the cartridge has substantial advantages compared to theprior art. Since the sealing end is designed integrally with the tubularmiddle section of the cartridge, the procedural steps of placing andlater removing the cartridge required to date in the prior art aredispensed with here. The cartridge according to the present inventionenables the process to be carried into effect fully automatically, as noadditional manual steps are required.

Of particular advantage also is the fact that the cartridge can bemanufactured very easily with use of a single mould, substantiallyreducing cartridge manufacturing costs.

In a preferred embodiment of the cartridge the tubular middle sectioncan be designed on both sides and on the front with an adjoining sealingend. In this way filling of the sausage meat and later ejection of thefinished sausage is clearly simplified.

To obtain the desired shape of the finished sausage, the sealing end canbe beneficially designed with the same diameter as the middle sectionwhere it connects to the tubular middle section, whereby it taperstowards the end at a distance from the tubular middle section. Thecharacteristic half-shaped sausage end is obtained directly from themanufacturing and moulding process.

It is preferred if the end diameter of the sealing end corresponds toapproximately two thirds of the diameter of the tube.

The sealing end is preferably designed with less wall thickness than thetubular middle section. In this respect, it has proven particularlyadvantageous if the wall thickness of the tubular middle section equalsapproximately three times the wall thickness of the sealing end. In thisway, adequate elasticity of the sealing end is obtained which isespecially necessary in sealing and forming the finished sausage.

In a preferred manner the sealing end can be provided, in the vicinityof its inner wall, with protruding rib elements which extend essentiallyover the length of the sealing end. It is particularly preferred here ifthe rib elements extend over a middle section of the sealing endconnecting with the end of the sealing end and connecting with the areaconnecting with the tubular middle section. It is also preferred if fiveor six rib elements are provided.

The positioning of rib elements enables the sausages to be provided atboth ends with various folds which simulate the classic twist-off effectin conventional sausages. At the same time the rib elements reinforcethe stability of the sealing end, without influencing the necessaryflexibility.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment a filling and ejectionelement is designed on the end of the sealing end lying opposite thetubular middle section.

The design further supports the fully automatic manufacture of askinless sausage, because filling, sealing and subsequent ejection ofthe sausage can be effected without additional steps previouslynecessary, and the process is thus further simplified.

It has eventuated particularly advantageous if the tubular middlesection, the sealing end and the filling and ejection element aredesigned integrally, with a filling and ejection element being providedon each sealing end. By making available a single shape whichsimultaneously serves as filling, sealing and ejection, any additionalsteps which were previously necessary, as already mentioned, are nowdispensed with, where the filling element has to be connected manuallyto the cartridge.

To facilitate filling the filling and ejection element is designedpreferably as a funnel-shape, where the end diameter of the filling andejection element corresponds to double the diameter at the connectionpoint to the connection end. A filling and ejection element designed inthe form of a funnel has proven to be particularly preferable forsupporting continuous filling of the sausage meat in the cartridge.

According to a preferred embodiment of the shape the filling andejection element is designed with a wall thickness which correspondsapproximately to two thirds of the wall thickness of the tubular middlesection. In addition to this, to facilitate filling a flange can bedesigned at the end of the filling and ejection element at a distancefrom the sealing end and extending in a circle around this end. Thisflange can equally be used as bearing and support edge in a device.

According to a preferred embodiment the tubular middle section isdesigned with a diameter to length ratio of 1:4.4. It is also preferredif the ratio of lengths between the tubular middle section, the sealingend and the filling and ejection is 20:1:2.4.

The cartridge is preferably manufactured from a foodstuff-safe flexiblesynthetic material. PTFE or Teflon are particular preferences here.

The cartridge can also be bent in the vicinity of the tubular middlesection to produce curved sausages.

In practice, it has proven particularly preferable to use a sealingdevice for closing off the sealing end of the reusable cartridgeaccording to the present invention, comprising at least two convergentguideways which can be moved reciprocally transversely to theirlongitudinal extension, which delimit an opening surrounding the sealingcomponent whose clear cross-section can be made smaller by reciprocalmovement of the guideways in the manner of a sealing stop.

The sealing end is introduced into the opening between two mobileguideways only, which are moved reciprocally for closing for closing offthe sealing end, by means of which the cross-section, into which thesealing end is introduced, is decreased, and in this way the enddiameter of the sealing end is reduced even further.

Several identical guideways are arranged here in a row, such that aplurality of reusable cartridges can be sealed at the same time with asingle sealing device. What has proven itself as a particularlypreferred embodiment is the guideways being designed in the vicinity ofa plate-shaped element, whereby there is a possible variant that theguideways are formed by bordering surfaces of the openings of anaperture.

Formation of the guideways within a plate-shaped element is, however,only a possible variant of the configuration; likewise, the guidewayscan be formed by bent or otherwise shaped elements. Plate-shapedelements are offered as a particularly simple variant, since bothplate-shaped elements can be easily displaced towards one another.

According to another preferred embodiment the sealing devices can bearranged above one another in pairs, preferably arranged above oneanother in pairs with a preset distance, whereby the preset distancecorresponds to the distance of the two scaling ends of the cartridgefrom one another.

Through this configuration it is possible to seal both sealing ends ofthe cartridge according to the present invention in one step and thus torender operation even easier.

Provision can also be made for the guideways to be designed drop-shaped,whereby the semicircular-shaped elements of the drop are expanded to theopening surrounding the sealing component.

It has also proved advantageous when the sealing devices arranged inpairs above one another are arranged in a cassette.

The sealing device can be operated by means of a pneumatic orelectromotor forward feed system.

The invention will now explained hereinafter in greater detail by meansof embodiments with reference to the accompanying diagrams, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cartridge according to a first embodiment of theinvention in a vertical section,

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section of the cartridge in section A—Aillustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cartridges illustrated in FIG. 1, wherebythe sealing end is enlarged,

FIG. 4 shows a plurality of cartridges according to the presentinvention which are mounted next to one another in two rows in atransport carrier,

FIG. 5 shows the transport carrier illustrated in FIG. 4 in plan view,

FIG. 6 shows the transport carrier illustrated in FIG. 4 incross-section,

FIG. 7 shows a sealing device for sealing the cartridge according to thepresent invention,

FIGS. 8a and 8 b show the sealing device illustrated in FIG. 7 in aspectin the open and closed state,

FIG. 9 shows filling of the cartridge according to the present inventionaccording to a first embodiment, and

FIG. 10 shows filling of a cartridge according to the present inventionaccording to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a cartridge according to the present invention in alongitudinal section. Cartridge 1 comprises a tubular middle section 2which is fitted on both sides at its ends with sealing ends 3 which arestructured and designed substantially identically in the embodimentdescribed here.

Sealing ends 3 are here connected integrally to tubular middle section 2and taper towards the end at a distance from the tubular middle section.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 sealing end 3 first tapers in anarc and then gradually transitions into the end diameter. In operation,this achieves the characteristic half-round end of the finished sausage.

Funnel-shaped filling and ejection elements 5 are connected to thesealing ends. Here, the transition between sealing end 3 and filling andejection element 5 is designed integrally. Filling and ejection element5 widens out from sealing end 3 and reaches the end of maximum diameterat a distance from sealing end 3.

Formed on the ends at a distance from the closing end of filling andejection element 5 is a flange 6 which encircles the filling andejection element and extends radially outwards.

As illustrated in detail FIG. 3, sealing end 3 is formed on its innerwall with additional rib elements 4 which project inwards and extendalong the sealing element longitudinally and substantially over theentire length. The rib elements here extend only over a middle sectionof sealing end 3, formed between the neck area between sealing end 3 andtubular middle section 2, as well as between sealing end 3 and fillingand ejection element 5. Because the rib elements do not extend to theneck areas, the stability of the sealing end is increased only in itsmiddle section; at the same time, however, adequate flexibility of theneck areas is guaranteed, such as with distortions arising duringoperation.

The cartridge according to the present invention is designed withvarious wall thicknesses, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, thewalls of tubular middle section 2 are the thickest so that this areashows minimal elasticity only during operation, whereby the dimensionshardly alter. In relation to the wall thickness of tubular middlesection 2 sealing ends 3 are designed with a minimal wall thicknesscorresponding to about two thirds one third of the wall thickness of thetubular middle section. Filling elements 5 connecting to sealing ends 3are designed with a wall thickness corresponding to about of the wallthickness of the tubular middle section. The flange is also designedwith a wall thickness and size such that the shape can be borne only bythe flange during operation.

A different flexibility is attained over the length of the form by meansof the varying wall thicknesses. The flexibility is thus greatest in thevicinity of the sealing end and it is therefore possible to reduce theend diameter of the sealing end even further by external influence, orto increase it during ejection of the finished sausage.

A foodstuff safe synthetic material, such as Teflon or PTFE, is thepreferred choice for material for the cartridge according to the presentinvention.

The dimensions of the cartridge according to the present invention givenin FIG. 1 have proven to be particularly suited to a sausage weighing 80g, 26 mm in diameter and 146 mm in length.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of cartridges according to the presentinvention which are already incorporated into a transport carrier. Here,each of the cartridges is attached or tensed between tow plate-shapedelements 7 a and 7 b, whereby the cartridges are arranged in circularopenings in plate-shaped elements 7 a and 7 b and are supportedrespectively on the side of plate-shaped elements 7 a and 7 b avertedfrom the cartridge, with flange 6 formed in the vicinity of the fillingand ejection element. The transport device or the transport carrier isillustrated in FIG. 5 in aspect or in FIG. 6 in cross-section. Thetransport carrier can be expanded here in any way, such as by arrangingother cartridges in the carrier.

Furthermore, a sealing device can be arranged within the transportcarrier, not illustrated in FIG. 4, however. A corresponding sealingdevice is shown in FIG. 7. The sealing device hereby comprises each oftwo plate-shaped elements 8 a, 8 b, arranged directly on top of oneanother and exhibiting guideways 10. In this connection, guideways 10are arranged relative to one another such that they delimit an opening.The cartridge is introduced into this opening in such a way that theopening is arranged on a plane with the end of sealing end 3 of thecartridge, that is, the end with the narrower diameter.

To sealing end 3 of the cartridge two plates 8 a, 8 b fitted withguideways 10 are moved towards one another, whereby the clearcross-section of the opening enclosed by guideways 10 is reduced allround. In this way, the enclosed diameter of sealing end 3 is decreaseduniformly from all sides, and the cartridge is sealed to the pint whereno more sausage meat goes through the sealing end. The view of a sealingdevice is illustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8 b, where both the open and theclosed state is illustrated without the inserted cartridge. In the caseof the illustrated sealing opening guideways 10 are formed by borderingsurfaces of drop-shaped openings in plates 8 a, 8 b. Both plates arearranged on one another such that the semicircular areas of thedrop-shaped openings come to rest next to one another and thus form acircular opening. The sharp ends of the drop-shaped openings are to theright and left near the circular opening. If both plate-shaped elements8 a, 8 b are displaced reciprocally, that is, moved towards one another,both semicircular areas of the drop-shaped openings retreat and thesharp ends of the drop-shaped elements are slowly moved towards oneanother. In the closed state the opening is then formed by the sharpends only.

The lower sealing end as well as the upper sealing end of the cartridgeare enclosed by a sealing device in operation, as in FIG. 7. In thisconnection both sealing devices can be controlled independently of oneanother, that is, it is feasible to seal first the lower end, fill thecartridge and then seal the upper end. The sealing device is preferablyformed directly inside the transport carrier.

The modus operandi and functioning of the cartridge according to thepresent invention will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS.9 and 10, as well as to FIGS. 4 and 7. The cartridges according to thepresent invention are introduced into a readied transport carrier andplaced automatically into the filling position. Filling heads 11 travelby way of a pneumatic or electromotor plunger station to the upper areaof cartridge 1 and at the same time vacuum suction knobs 12 travel tothe lower area of the cartridge. Cartridges 1 are evacuated by a vacuumpump, by means of which a negative pressure is generated in thecartridge to facilitate entry of tubular filling tool 13 a, 13 b. Lowersealing end 3 is then closed and at the same time sausage meat 14 ispushed into tubular middle section 2 by means of the filling head and ametering device 15. Here it is irrelevant whether this filling head is avacuum filling head 13 a, as illustrated in FIG. 9, or a submersibletube filling head 13 b, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Submersible tubefilling head 13 b is used for longer sausages and for sausages having alarger cross-section.

With submersible tube filling head 13 b the filling head, as illustratedin FIG. 10, is fitted with a filling tube which dips into cartridge 1cup to one third of the sausage length and is then retracted upwards outof the cartridge as the filling tool is delivering the sausage meat tothe tubular middle section. With this embodiment the cartridge can alsobe filled without a vacuum being generated in the cartridge.

Next the upper sealing end is closed. In this respect, the sealingdevice can be closed manually, pneumatically or electrically, accordingto wish. The cartridges filled with sausage meat travel together withthe transport carrier to the subsequent procedural step and at the sametime an empty transport carrier provided with cartridges is conveyed tothe filling station.

The transport carriers equipped with filled cartridges can then beforwarded to further processing stations such as a maturing station, asmoking station and the like. As soon as the sausages are made in thecartridges, that is, matured and reddened, they can be withdrawn fromthe cartridges in a simple manner by opening of upper and lower sealingend 3. To facilitate ejection of the sausages from the cartridges, acompressed air tool can be set in the upper region of the cartridge inorder to simply blow the sausage out of the cartridge with compressedair. In this connection, the end of the sealing end of the cartridge isprised apart easily by the diameter of the sausage and ejection of thesausage is facilitated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reusable cartridge for manufacturing a skinlesssausage comprising a tubular middle section and at least one adjoiningsealing end made of a flexible synthetic material, wherein the tubularmiddle section of the cartridge is formed integrally with the sealingend, and wherein the sealing end has an inner wall, and wherein thesealing end in the vicinity of its inner wall is provided with ribelements which extend over at least a portion of the length of thesealing end.
 2. A reusable cartridge according to claim 1, wherein therib elements extend over a middle section of the sealing end which isformed between an area connecting with the tubular middle section andthe end area of the sealing end.
 3. A reusable cartridge according toclaim 1, including one of five and six rib elements.
 4. A reusablecartridge for manufacturing a skinless sausage, comprising a tubularmiddle section and at least one adjoining sealing end made of a flexiblesynthetic material, wherein the tubular middle section of the cartridgeis formed integrally with the sealing end, further including a fillingand ejection element formed on the end of the sealing end, and includinga flange formed at the end of the filling and ejection element at adistance from the sealing end and extending in a circle around the end.5. A sealing device for closing off the sealing end of a reusablecartridge or manufacturing skinless sausages, which comprises: areusable cartridge for manufacturing a skinless sausage having a tubularmiddle section and at least one adjoining sealing end made of asynthetic material, wherein the tubular middle section of the cartridgeis formed integrally with the sealing end; at least two convergentguideways which are able to move reciprocally transversely to theirlongitudinal extension, which delimit an opening surrounding the sealingend whose cross section can be made smaller by reciprocal movement ofthe guideways in a manner of a sealing stop.
 6. A sealing deviceaccording to claim 5, including several identically shaped guidewaysarranged in a row.
 7. A sealing device according to claim 5, wherein theguideways are formed in the vicinity of a plate-shaped element.
 8. Asealing device according to claim 5, wherein the guideways are formed bybordering surfaces of the openings of an aperture.
 9. A sealing deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the sealing devices are arranged one abovethe other in pairs.
 10. A sealing device according to claim 5, whereinthe sealing devices are arranged one above the other in pairs with apreset distance therebetween, wherein the preset distance corresponds tothe distance of the sealing ends of the cartridge from one another. 11.A sealing device according to claim 5, wherein the guideways aredesigned drop-shaped including semicircular-shaped elements thereof,wherein the semicircular-shaped elements are expanded to the openingsurrounding the sealing components.
 12. A sealing device according toclaim 5, wherein said device is arranged in pairs one above the otherand in a cassette.
 13. A sealing device according to claim 5, whereinthe sealing device includes a pneumatic or electromotor forward feedsystem.